Datasheet

random-orbit sanders
Sanding discs:
Hook-and-loop
vrs. s€lf-adhesirrc
Abrasive
discs attach to a random-orlcit
sande/s
pad
in
one of two ways: by hook-and-loop
(like
your pre-
schoole/s Velcro
shoelaces) or by
pressure-sensitive
adhesive
(PSA).
We
prefer
hook-andloop discs
because theyre reusabl*you
can
remove
and
replace the
discs a
number
of times.
PSA
discs can't
be reattached,
so
you
often end up
throwing them
away
only
half-spent.
And, PSA
discs can slip
when
the sanding
pad gets
warm. When
that
happens,
you
could end up with
sticky
goo
on
your
workpiece. Although PSA
discs
cost
less,
most
sander
manufacturerc have
switched
exclusively to the hook-and{oop mounting method,
so
PSA
discs are becoming harder to find.
Craftsman and
Ryobi
sanders
come
with
a smooth
pad
for PSA
paper,
but also
include
an
adhesivebacked adapter disc so
you
can use
hook-and-loop
discs.
Sometimes,
the hook-and-loop
holds better than the adhesive,
and
the
adapter oomes off
with
the
sanding disc.
Who
needs
variable speed?
We
use
random-orbit
sanders
in
the
WOOb magazine
shop
nearly
every day, and we seldom run them
at anything
less than fullspeed.
So
should
you
save
$f$10
and
get
a
single-speed
sander? We'd
spend
the extra money to
gain
the versatili-
ty.
Here
are a
few
occasions
when
we back the speed down:
e
On small
parts.
A workpiece about the same size
as the sanding
pad
will
often
want
to
spin
with
the
pad,
even
when
backed by an anti-slip mat.
Slowing
the sander helps keep the wok-
piece
from rotiating.
o
Vlhen sanding
edges.
Because
of
the
small amount of
wood in
contact
with the
spinning
pad,
we'llsometimes
slow
the
sander
when
smoothing
narow
faces,
such as
the
edge of a shelf.
That
edge can catch and make the
sander take off, leaving
you
with an
accidental round-over.
o
To
gain
control.
Any time we feel like the sander is
difficult to control, or that the tool is
too aggressive for the task, we slow
down to
gain
the upper hand.
This
control
is
especially
important
when
working with veneers
or
veneered
plywood.
the sanding
pad when lifted
from a work-
piece
so that it doesn't
gouge
when
set
back down.
(We
found that
a
pad
speed
less than 400 rpm
prevents
such
goug-
ing.) Unfortunately, some models that
claim a brake-the Black & Decker and
Bosch
3lO7Dvs-actually sped up
when lifted from a work
surface.
The chart at the end
of this article
shows our
grade
for
each sander. If the
pad
speed
exceeded 400 rpm
(measured
with
a
phototachometer)
after 30 seconds
of free spinning, the tool earned a D; if
the
pad
slowed to
60
rpm
or
less, it
earned an A.
appointed
at the
variety
of sizes and
shapes of the dust
ports
on these random-
orbit sanders. If
you plan
to use a shop
vacuum
with
your
sander,
your
best bet
is
to buy a vac hose
and/or adapters from the
same manufacturer as the
sander.
All
of the tested sanders have
on-board
dust-collection
containers, most often a
cloth or
paper
bag or
paper
filter. The
chart,
above, shows the
percentage
of
sanding
debris each tool
gathered.
Dust
that wasn't
collected escaped
around the
edges of the
pad,
at the dust
port-dust
bag
joint,
or through
porous
dust bags.
We prefer
dust receptacles
that lock
66
snugly onto the sander, as bumping
and
dragging can cause friction-fit containers
to
unexpectedly
pop
off and send flying
the dust
you
hoped
to catch.
AI,r,*
vibration.
A
random-orbit
Cf
t*Oer that vibrates can be downright
I
uncomfortable to use, making
your
fingers
tingle or even
go
a little numb
during long sanding
sessions.
Three
of the
tested tools
(Festool,
Porter-Cable,
and
Ryobi) felt
smooth as silk as we sanded.
ff
Pad
brake. All of the sanders in
\
our test, except the Milwaukee
lY60l9-6,
sport a
pad
brake. This
device is supposed to slow the rotation
of
WOOD rnagazine
November 2002